Anna C

Given how much you have to pay for exam entry fees, and how long children work towards them, I'd bite the bullet and speak to the PE dept, explaining the situation.

I just can't see that the average 9 year old's bones are hard or strong enough for pointe.

How uncomfortable! I hate thongs!

Have you got a link to that, taxi? I can't find that feature on the Bloch website and it would be useful. :-)

M&S also do high legs in a sort of silky material. One of the multipacks has white, black and nude colour and they are invisible even under dd's high legged associates leotard. Their size 8 is titchy.

Ooh, and me, lisadebs! I will check those out. :-)

Thanks Regattah. She may do - difficult to know, isn't it! Her favourite books at the moment are Louise Rennison's Georgia Nicholson books (Angus Thongs etc.) but she's read them all about 500 times! Anyone know of any similar series she might like?

Thanks Tutu Cute!

Thanks! DD is Yr 8 but is such an avid reader, I'm always looking for new books for her.

Dd hasn't read any of these yet; are they suitable for 13 year-olds?

Gorgeous, isn't it? It was too long but there's a natural break in it after about 1 min 30 or so. My dd loved dancing to it. Great film, too. ;-)

That's a good question! I suspect it's essentially whether children have enough turnout facility, feet with enough flexibility, long, flexible hamstrings. Some schools like long legs and a shorter torso, long neck etc. but others are more interested in potential than what a child currently looks like. Your dd's teacher should be able to measure turnout, assess hamstrings etc. and recommend exercises for flexibility. It's very difficult for us as parents to see our child rejected. It does get easier though and if you can stay positive and try to convince your child that "no" is not personal and often means "not at the moment" then it will give you both the strength to keep trying.

You're not alone! I felt like that 5 or so years ago - then I found the good folks of balletco, thank goodness! :-)

Does it have to be classical? Last year my dd danced to the theme from the film "Sabrina" by John Williams. She also has a lovely "soft" quality to her dancing with beautiful port de bras (apparently) and the music suited her perfectly. Let's see if this link works (bear with): http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IqxrMa7eUAU

Hi Maisie Lou, welcome to the forum. Please don't be disheartened by your daughter's first "no". I should think every one of us with dancing children has received a "no" letter at one time or another. There are the rare dancers who are accepted every time without fail, and even get their chosen contract at their first audition having sailed through training - but I suspect they are the exceptions rather than the norm! I like to think of "no" letters as "not yet", rather than "never". Your DD is very young and many children get turned down at their first audition because all children develop at different rates. It may be that in a year or two your dd might get a "yes", you literally never know. All schools and associate schemes look for different qualities. At 9 they will probably all look for potential, physique, turnout, musicality etc. but remember they all have limited numbers of places so don't take the "no" personally. Let your dd carry on enjoying ballet - at 9 the main thing is that she takes pleasure from her dancing. Next year if she wants to, I would let her audition again and audition for more than one Associate Scheme. The good ones often mean a long journey but they are well worth it. :-)

Welcome to the forum, tierneylina. :-)

Aha, well that makes more sense. It still doesn't look all that safe but at least they are gymnasts.

Yes, they are lovely quality, really elastic and durable material. They look little when you take them out of the packet but they do stretch to fit. They don't go baggy though. :-)

Amazing or not, I can see no good reason to put a 5 or 6 year old en pointe.

I know some teachers (in many countries) put girls en pointe earlier than I would be happy with - around 9 or so - but I've never known anyone be put en pointe as young as Lada. She is at school in Russia and her teachers have put many videos of her on Youtube. She definitely seems to be their chosen pupil but I do worry about her long term health.

If she's 5'1 I'd try adult size A/B. My dd has been wearing that size since she was 11. :-)

Lada is the little girl who was put en pointe at five or six, if I remember rightly. Goodness only knows what state her feet will be in later in life.

I just saw that photo too. That kind of flexibility should never be a pre-requisite for ballet. Can you imagine Fonteyn doing that?!

Interestingly, one or two Bloch models are actually designed so that the innersole/shank is not glued to the satin at the heel; I remember Tiffany showing us a pair. She did explain why but I can't remember! DD had a pair and it didn't affect her pointework, but it certainly made the shoes easier to de-shank afterwards! :-)

My dd has been training herself - combined with use of orthotics - not to roll in when dancing. She has been strengthening her feet and ankles so that the hypermobile joints are supported and this helps her not to roll in when dancing. Shimmer, could a dance physio give you some exercises to help?